Gibson was removed from job in 2016

CHESAPEAKE — The former police chief of Chesapeake has been denied his appeal challenging his removal from office by village council last year.

The Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas ruled against Dennis Gibson and found him responsible for court costs on Jan. 3.

Gibson was removed from his position as chief in an April 12, 2016 vote by council, after Mayor Tommy Templeton charged him with dishonesty in office, malfeasance in office, insubordination and neglect of duty.

Gibson was represented by attorney Warren Morford at the vote, which took place following an administrative hearing.

At Monday’s meeting of council, Templeton said he had been contacted by village solicitor Casey Baker that morning, informing him of the ruling.

Due to Gibson’s additional job of working at the Lawrence County Courthouse, Templeton said judges Charles Cooper and the late D. Scott Bowling had recused themselves from hearing the case, instead letting it go to visiting judge, Dale Crawford of Franklin County.

Templeton said Gibson’s case could be appealed further.

Following Gibson’s removal, he was succeeded in the position by Lenny Abrams, who resigned in September. Randy Lewis, who is currently leading the department, was named as interim chief in late September.

In other police matters, the council voted 6-0 on Monday to allow Lewis to reside outside the village of Chesapeake while serving as chief.

Templeton said previous chiefs have been allowed this, and that each case is voted on individually.

The council also voted to retroactively hire Eric Morgan as an officer for the department.

“We put him on the job a few weeks ago,” Templeton said. “He comes to us from Proctorville and has worked on the auxiliary. He’s a really good kid.”

The council also voted on whether to have police officers carry the anti-opiate reversal drug Narcan.

Templeton said the request came from Lewis, who had convinced him of its merit.

The mayor said Lewis had told him of how the drug saved the life of a child in the Cincinnati area who had stumbled into his parents’ heroin supply.

“My position was ‘no’ until he convinced me,” Templeton told the council. Member Paul Hart expressed the same opinion and told council members that Lewis had also persuaded him.

The council split 3-3 on the issue, with Templeton casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of officers carrying Narcan on a six-month trial basis.

In other business, the council:

• Voted to create a committee to work on the issue of cleaning up property in the village.

• Recommended member Kenny Wolfe to serve as mayor pro tempore.

• Discussed the annual renewal of the Chesapeake-Union Township fire contact. The council voted to table the issue for further discussion

• Discussed the need to purchase a new truck for the street department, such as snowplowing and leaf removal, and the need to upgrade the roof of the fire department. No action was taken and the mayor and members agreed to explore options.

• Voted to post 15 mph speed limit signs on Riverside Drive, to deter violations by the increased traffic on the street, which has been used to avoid the main bus route in the mornings.